Match Threads Everton vs Spurs

[stormfly]

I wish we can just fast forward for 3 games time when we have another 9 points on the board and I can feel positive again.

 

[Gilzeanking]

The problem imo is we had no control of the midfield. Bentancur was a passenger, Maddison was on the periphery and Hojbjerg’s passing was all over the place. We couldn’t keep hold of the ball so the ball kept on being launched right back at us. I don’t think it was a problem with the defence or even the tactics per se, it’s just we had no control of the ball.

I also wonder what you mean by game management? It’s not like we were committing huge numbers forward? There was no sense of throwing caution to the wind or taking unnecessary risks. Quite the opposite in fact. We were being pinned back and couldn’t wrestle control of the match. We even brought on an extra centre back - the opposite of rigidity given it’s a change of formation and system.

Ok I was referring to the general repetition of style rather than specifically for this match, no-one will deny we always play the same way generally. Lets take the high line at free kicks yesterday, this we always do even when it looks more and more dangerous as our defenders are all running back towards goal instead of facing the ball from deeper...and Romero got caught up in the confusion.

Also the obvious need for help for Vicario at dead ball situations.
Every successful team has a winding down a match mode . We may have brought on a newbie extra defender, but this was no way a professional seeing out of the game. We don't have that gear drilled into the players because Ange has his style.

You're right off about the bizarre Bents form disappearance, yes I know he's only had 3 games , but I still don't recognise him... Bent's brother is it ?...this meant the out ball wasn't easy..with PEH too not having a good turn on him.

 

[Styopa]

I wish we can just fast forward for 3 games time when we have another 9 points on the board and I can feel positive again.

Since the new year, we have drawn away to Man U (last season lost 2-0), beaten Brentford at home (last season lost 3-1) and drawn away to Everton (last season also drew, 1-1).

So we are 4 points better off compared to the equivalent fixtures.

Hope that makes you feel better

 

[whenstevewentup]

For me we have gone from controlling a decent majority of games to playing the odd good 5 minute spell here or there . I know there’s more to come and players will be back but it’s honestly not that enjoyable to watch at the moment if I’m completely honest . Arsenal , city and Liverpool properly dominate games , that’s the next step for us , yes it’s nice to win games when u don’t play well but that doesn’t last long and results soon change .

 

[Styopa]

Ok I was referring to the general repetition of style rather than specifically for this match, no-one will deny we always play the same way generally. Lets take the high line at free kicks yesterday, this we always do even when it looks more and more dangerous as our defenders are all running back towards goal instead of facing the ball from deeper...and Romero got caught up in the confusion.

Also the obvious need for help for Vicario at dead ball situations.
Every successful team has a winding down a match mode . We may have brought on a newbie extra defender, but this was no way a professional seeing out of the game. We don't have that gear drilled into the players because Ange has his style.

You're right off about the bizarre Bents form disappearance, yes I know he's only had 3 games , but I still don't recognise him... Bent's brother is it ?

I agree we need to do something to fix the Vicario situation and I’m surprised Ange didn’t after the Man C game.

I disagree though that we should be looking to make major changes to the way Ange wants us to play. This is the first season in hopefully a long project. Yeah once the new style of play is fully established maybe we can start looking to mix things up a bit. But not at this stage of the process imo. Especially when we are trying to establish such a radical change of style from Mourinho/Nuno/Conte.

 

[Gilzeanking]

I agree we need to do something to fix the Vicario situation and I’m surprised Ange didn’t after the Man C game.

I disagree though that we should be looking to make major changes to the way Ange wants us to play. This is the first season in hopefully a long project. Yeah once the new style of play is fully established maybe we can start looking to mix things up a bit. But not at this stage of the process imo. Especially when we are trying to establish such a radical change of style from Mourinho/Nuno/Conte.

OK fair enough. We're 6 months in with minimum matches to interrupt training new methods tho, have no 1 defence in place....and look worse defending than our earliest matches.

Poss Prem teams have sussed a way to counteract Ange footy better now which could be why we never look good these days. I dunno, but I'm less confident now than at any point in the season so far.
Fingers crossed for top 4.

 

[Styopa]

OK fair enough. We're 6 months in with minimum matches to interrupt training new methods tho, have no 1 defence in place....and look worse defending than our earliest matches.

Poss Prem teams have sussed a way to counteract Ange footy better now which could be why we never look good these days. I dunno, but I'm less confident now than at any point in the season so far.
Fingers crossed for top 4.

As I mentioned earlier, I think yesterday was more to do with the midfield than the defence, and our midfield is far from being back to its best.

I disagree the league has sussed Ange out. It’s not like if they wanted to suss him out they couldn’t have checked out some videos of the way Celtic played? Unless all the coaches in the league limit themselves to watching Premier League matches?

We were at our best earlier in the season when we had most of our best players available and fully fit including e.g Romero, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison and Son. Then we lost form following several injuries to key players.

Those key players are now returning but several still look at best half fit (e.g Maddison) whilst others are just returning (e.g Sarr) whilst others are not available (e.g Son).

I don’t think it’s a major mystery that we play better when players like Son, Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison play and are fully fit, whilst we struggle a bit when they’re not.

 

[Gilzeanking]

As I mentioned earlier, I think yesterday was more to do with the midfield than the defence, and our midfield is far from being back to its best.

I disagree the league has sussed Ange out. It’s not like if they wanted to suss him out they couldn’t have checked out some videos of the way Celtic played? Unless all the coaches in the league limit themselves to watching Premier League matches?

We were at our best earlier in the season when we had most of our best players available and fully fit including e.g Romero, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison and Son. Then we lost form following several injuries to key players.

Those key players are now returning but several still look at best half fit (e.g Maddison) whilst others are just returning (e.g Sarr) whilst others are not available (e.g Son).

I don’t think it’s a major mystery that we play better when players like Son, Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison play and are fully fit, whilst we struggle a bit when they’re not.

OK I hope you're right.

 

[ajspurs]

For me we have gone from controlling a decent majority of games to playing the odd good 5 minute spell here or there . I know there’s more to come and players will be back but it’s honestly not that enjoyable to watch at the moment if I’m completely honest . Arsenal , city and Liverpool properly dominate games , that’s the next step for us , yes it’s nice to win games when u don’t play well but that doesn’t last long and results soon change .

Bang on. Don't get me wrong, before people jump on, I know we're in an incredible state currently, we're well and truly on the right path, have had a whole load of injuries and players away and this is nitpicky because it's still been a good points return also, but looking at us recently in isolation, I fully agree. I was actually thinking about it and looking at our last few games which were (in reverse order):

Newcastle (H) 4-1
Forest (A) 2-0
Everton (H) 2-1
Brighton away (A) 4-2
Bournemouth (H) 3-1
Burnley (H) 1-0
United (A) 2-2
City (H) 0-1
Brentford (H) 3-2
Everton (A) 2-2

Now I've genuinely probably enjoyed only 2 of those, being Newcastle and United. Maybe Forest at a push because not every away game is going to be smooth and fluid yet it was a great 3 points. The others haven't been the greatest of watches for me personally, as I think we've allowed the opposition way too much of the ball. Everton, Bournemouth and Brentford at home in particular I found to all be rather uncomfortable watches.

The balance in our play is definitely off, but with Sarr and a hopefully fit Bissouma back, there's a good chance of being back to where we were. Not to mention the game against Brighton is our final game without Son, so things are definitely looking up on the players returning side of things.

 

[only1waddle]

As I mentioned earlier, I think yesterday was more to do with the midfield than the defence, and our midfield is far from being back to its best.

I disagree the league has sussed Ange out. It’s not like if they wanted to suss him out they couldn’t have checked out some videos of the way Celtic played? Unless all the coaches in the league limit themselves to watching Premier League matches?

We were at our best earlier in the season when we had most of our best players available and fully fit including e.g Romero, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison and Son. Then we lost form following several injuries to key players.

Those key players are now returning but several still look at best half fit (e.g Maddison) whilst others are just returning (e.g Sarr) whilst others are not available (e.g Son).

I don’t think it’s a major mystery that we play better when players like Son, Sarr, Bissouma and Maddison play and are fully fit, whilst we struggle a bit when they’re not.

Good post and I make you right, I think the general questioning and frustration probably has it's roots in "another transition season", another season without a trophy etc, the reality that had we not lost so many key players things could have been different, or even having slightly better squad depth, we always seem to be playing catch up squad wise due to previous poor recruitment or just the mish mash of players from previous coaches/styles, even moving Kalvin Phillips on could improve City in training by 1%, everything has knock on effects with the system heavy football we have now, 5 or 6 ill fitting cogs, or 70% fit cogs and it just doesn't click.
Frustration and impatience for the promised land is a thing with most fanbases and I think the way we started the season there were a few dreams of this being something magical, alas, we don't seem to be in favour with the football gods.

 

[whenstevewentup]

I think we’ve got lots to be positive about , we’re building a very good squad with lots of potential, if we can add 3 / 4 first team players next season then we have a great 16/17 man squad and a couple of exciting youngsters thrown in . It’s time to move on Gil , Lo Celso , sess ,ndombele , Tanganga , Spence ( I’d guess we keep skipp for homegrown reasons ) lots to look forward to , Shame we will never know what this season could have been without the injuries.

 

[StockSpur]

Any stats you look at Hojberg has a pass completion percentage of nearly 90%

 

[luRRka]

Any stats you look at Hojberg has a pass completion percentage of nearly 90%

44/57 - 77% completion. He wasn't bad yesterday though, no worse than anyone else, but we looked better when sarr came on as bentancur is still not up to speed and we will be better when we have a 6 like fit bissouma running the midfield

 

[Styopa]

Good post and I make you right, I think the general questioning and frustration probably has it's roots in "another transition season", another season without a trophy etc, the reality that had we not lost so many key players things could have been different, or even having slightly better squad depth, we always seem to be playing catch up squad wise due to previous poor recruitment or just the mish mash of players from previous coaches/styles, even moving Kalvin Phillips on could improve City in training by 1%, everything has knock on effects with the system heavy football we have now, 5 or 6 ill fitting cogs, or 70% fit cogs and it just doesn't click.
Frustration and impatience for the promised land is a thing with most fanbases and I think the way we started the season there were a few dreams of this being something magical, alas, we don't seem to be in favour with the football gods.

I totally agree. I think especially going out of the FA Cup has exasperated the frustration about this being another transition season.

I think if you look at most of the early posts in this thread and others, most people were preaching patience, talking about it being a transition season etc but as you say the brilliant start and the fact we’re not in Europe raised expectations.

But I do think going out of the FA Cup is what has made yesterday’s result feel worse than it really was. Whilst we were still in the cup we could dream of winning it. And if we had won yesterday we could dream of being in a title race. Now it feels like top four is the ceiling yet again, which I understand feels a bit disappointing given the way we started the season.

 

[only1waddle]

Any stats you look at Hojberg has a pass completion percentage of nearly 90%

It's the things he can't do that affect our play, that's not his fault, just where we are at the moment squad wise, missing players etc.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

It's the things he can't do that affect our play, that's not his fault, just where we are at the moment squad wise, missing players etc.

When both Kulu and Sarr came on there were numerous times for the first 15 mins or so where we reverted to the quick triangular passes that we saw pre the injury crisis. Sarr in particular, pass and move. Neither Hojbjerg or Skipp can do this. They’re not necessarily bad players they’re just not suited to how Ange likes us to play.

In addition to this Hojbjerg (mistakes aside) has put in a couple of workmanlike performances BUT due to his limitations we’ve lacked presence in central midfield. Again. Pre the injuries Bissouma and Sarr dominated central midfield which allowed us to press higher up the pitch, force mistakes and score goals.

 

[Nebby]

We might have players back, but they are clearly not all match fit. No need to panic.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Forget the result, can we stop wearing that absolute monstrosity of a shit stained kit please.

Totally agree ! Be it vanilla or taupe it is a negative looking kit
IMO

 

[DenverSpur]

why we couldn’t play in our traditional colours of white shirt, navy blue shorts against a team in blue shirts and white shirts is beyond me. Forget marketing! Unless you’re away and there is a colour clash we should always play in our team colours.

 

[FuturistiC123]

Due to injury and suspension Romero, VDV and Vicario have played about 13 games together, it will take a season at least to iron out all the wrinkles. two of the three are new members of the squad, which adds to the challenge. We have a very young side overall. There are still 2 or 3 players required to flesh the squad out, and allow rotation as required. Kulu has played 3 different roles in one game for us and several different positions to cover holes. The moment his form waivered out come the he's not good enough comments. A lot on here are obsessed with pace. It's a great asset if you have it, but it's nowhere near as important as anticipation, ability to use the ball, and read the game. Let the ball do the work is the maxim of good teams. If we can keep it like we did during the opening spell at Goodison, we will go far.